Braking sail for skiers

ABSTRACT

A braking sail for skiers that is of a generally triangular shape having convex top and side edges and arranged so that the sail is arched substantially spherically by air flow with the greatest bulge in the lower portion. The sail is provided with handles at its upper corners and detachable latches at the lower corners for attachment to the skis or boots of a skier.

United States Patent 1 Spiegel [111 3,830,512 [451 Aug. 20, 1974 BRAKING SAIL FOR SKIERS [75] Inventor: Bernt Spiegel, Mannheim, Germany [73] Assignee: Vereinigte Baubeschlagfabriken Gretsch & Co. GmbI-I, Leonberg Ubertragen, Germany [22] Filed: Dec. 27, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 318,852

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 28, 1971 Germany 11160 [52] US. Cl. 280/1137 S, 244/113, 244/DIG. -1 [51] Int. Cl. A63c ll/00 [58] Field of Search 280/1137 S, 213; 9/310 A, 9/310 R; 114/102, 103, 104, 105; 80/1 G;

Thirring 280/1 1.37 S Hood 114/103 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Der Schwebelauf, Dr. Hans Thirring, 1939, pp. 24-25 Primary ExaminerDavid Schonberg Assistant Examiner-David M. Mitchell Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Kenneth S. Goldfarb 5 7 ABSTRACT A braking sail for skiers that is of a generally triangular shape having convex top and side edges and arranged so that the sail is arched substantially spherically by air flow with the greatest bulge in the lower portion. The sail is provided with handles'at its upper corners and detachable latches at the lower corners for attachment to the skis or boots of a skier.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,178,165 A 4/1916 Lupton, .lr 280/1137 S 1 BRAKING SAIL FOR SKIERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a braking sail for skiers which is affixed, in detachable relation to the heels of the skier and is held taut, by the skiers outstretched arms. The braking sail is provided with arcuate seams starting at the side edges, so that the sail is arched by the air flow.

2. Description of the Prior Art Attempts in the past have been made to increase the air resistance of the skier with the aid of a braking sail, in such a manner that the skier on steep slopes, where without benefit of a braking sail the skier would otherwise have to turn intermittently to reduce speed, it is possible to still race downhill in substantially a straight descent at moderate speed. However, the areas of such braking sails such as the Luther were below /2 m or below 1 m in the case of the Thirring sail and were, therefore, much too small for braking on a steep ski run. Moreover, these prior sails were badly cut from the aerodynamic viewpoint.

The Luther wing provided a braking effect only at very high speeds but was very difficult to hold thereafter. On the other hand, when the skier wanted to ride without braking, this sail could be relatively well concealed by lowering the arms, with the exception of two corners which flapped behind. The Thirring jacket as set forth in Austrian Pat. No. 154,578 was held taut between the outstretched arms of the skier and the heels and its effect was better but it, too, was very hard to hold, and could almost not be concealed at all: the skier had to squat very low and snatch up the flapping cloth, as best as he could manage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a braking sail for skiers whose shape, in an inflated state, performs with an appropriately strong forward lean of the skier providing a starting as well as a braking effect and whose reaction pressure can still be well absorbed by the skier and transmitted to his skis.

To this end and in accordance with the invention, the seams of the sail are so designed that the braking sail assumes an almost spherical shape during the ride, with its greatest arching situated in its lower half, while the upper corners of the sail are connected through a line or thin rope of adjustable length and its lower corner is provided with a releasable latch device. The receptacle for this latch device can be mounted on the binding or on the ski boots or can be placed around the lower thigh, in form of a cuff.

The aerodynamically preferred shape according to the present invention was developed during windtunnel tests and produces in the longitudinal section of the sail (through the bodily axis of the skier) a sort of strong wind profile with extremely extended landing flap which due to its arching, produces an acceleration stall, which is strongly shifted backward. With its upper portion, the braking sail of the invention provides a considerable lift while its lower portion does the braking. The particular advantage of this braking sail lies in the fact that the skier can also race down extremely steep slopes and can assume thereby, an extreme-forward lean, which at moderate speed imparts to the skier a sensation of being suspended such as gliding or floating. Even on moderate declines, the extraordinary forward lean and the lift provide a considerable relief to the skier, so that even the less experienced skier can easily soar without the risk of high speed. Moreover, the skier is quickly in a position to contemplate steep deep-snow slopes. On steep slopes, the forward lean is so great even at moderate speeds, that the skier lies almost horizontally in the air cushion formed by the sail and this gives the skier the aforementioned sensation of gliding or floating at safe and still easily manageable speeds.

The connection of the two upper sail corners by means of a line or rope which adjusts to the anatomy of the skier relieves the skier and the skier need no longer actively stem the braking sail forward which could be managed for short periods only, if at all, in view of the forces acting against the sail. The skier must only make sure that his or her arms remain well "extended so that the sail edges are taut and this is a simple manipulation. This may be accomplished by a simple knot in the line or conventional means such as a rope turnbuckle could be used.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sail is split at its lower end and each corner is provided with a latch device. Asa result, both skies are subjected to the same physical conditions, in narrow as well as in wide ski positions.

Naturally for such large sails, which are suggested by the present invention, it is important that the braking effect of the sail can be cancelled, for instance when the decline flattens out. To this end, the sail comprises, at the foot end, releasable latch members. After its release, the sail waves freely backward. The skier can then take the two upper corners in one hand and can gather up the sail with the other hand to form a relatively non fluttering small bundle.

In the following, the invention is described in greater detail with reference to two embodiments, illustrated in the drawing, wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view of an embodiment of a braking sail according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of another preferred embodiment of a braking sail having split foot bottom portion;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the inflated braking sail; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view showing a detachable clip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views the braking sail 1 is of a sheet of any suitable material of essentially triangular configuration, in its outline, with convex side edges. Its upper corners 2 are affixed to handles 3, with short ropes 4. The corners or the handles are interconnected through a line 5, of adjustable length. The skier lifts his arms sideways up, toward the outside until the lines and the convex side edges 10, ll of the sail are taut.

With its lower end 6, the sail is secured to the ski or ski shoe as may be desired by releasable fasteners. It is preferably split and affixed with 'two separate fasteners to the skis or shoes at corners 6a, 6b. The slot 7 which forms the gap or split reaches far into the area of the sail, in order to prevent a tear, for example during an accidental fall.

The upper edge 12 is convex and seam 8 is upwardly convex while seam 13 therebelow starting at approximately the middle of side edges 10 and 11 is downwardly convex. Seam 14 starting at approximately one quarter of the height of the side edges 10 and 11 from 'the bottom thereof is arcuately convex downwardly at a lesser radius of curvature than seam l3.

In FIG. 4, there is shown a detachable clip 15. Of course any clip or latch of suitable design may be employed.

A latitude of modification, substitution and change is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features.

I claim:

1. Braking sail for skiers which is adapted to be detachably affixed to the heels of a skier and adapted to be held taut by the extended arms of a skier, said sail being provided with arcuate seams issuing from the side edges thereof so that said sail is arched by the air flow, so that during the ride, said braking sail assumes an almost spherical form with the greatest bulge situated in the lower half of said sail, said arcuate seams include an upper seam which is convex upwardly, a middle seam which is convex downwardly and a lower seam of a lesser radius of curvature than said middle seam so that said sheet will bulge in the lower portion of said sheet, said sail comprising a sheet of triangular shape having a convex top edge and convex side edges forming two upper corners and a lower corner, and means for attaching said sail to a skier including an adjustable length line interconnecting said upper corners said upper corners being provided with handle means to be held by the skier, said means for attaching further including releasable latch means at said lower corner.

2. Braking sail according to claim 1, wherein its width amounts to about l-Vz time the arm span ofa skier and its length amounts to about to about I% of the body length of a skier.

3. Braking sail according to claim 2, wherein said sail is split at its lower end forming two lower corners each provided with a latch device. 

1. Braking sail for skiers which is adapted to be detachably affixed to the heels of a skier and adapted to be held taut by the extended arms of a skier, said sail being provided with arcuate seams issuing from the side edges thereof so that said sail is arched by the air flow, so that during the ride, said braking sail assumes an almost spherical form with the greatest bulge situated in the lower half of said sail, said arcuate seams include an upper seam which is convex upwardly, a middle seam which is convex downwardly and a lower seam of a lesser radius of curvature than said middle seam so that said sheet will bulge in the lower portion of said sheet, said sail comprising a sheet of triangular shape having a convex top edge and convex side edges forming two upper corners and a lower corner, and means for attaching said sail to a skier including an adjustable length line interconnecting said upper corners said upper corners being provided with handle means to be held by the skier, said means for attaching further including releasable latch means at said lower corner.
 2. Braking sail according to claim 1, wherein its width amounts to about 1- 1/2 time the arm span of a skier and its length amounts to about to about 1- 1/4 of the body length of a skier.
 3. Braking sail according to claim 2, wherein said sail is split at its lower end forming two lower corners each provided with a latch device. 